USB print

Abstract

The invention is directed to a system and interface wherein a multifuntion copier, equipped with a Universal Serial Bus port, accepts data directly from a USB-Data Storage Device (USB-DSD) for the purpose of printing, e-mailing, and faxing. The system contains a copier containing a computer-controller having at least one USB port interface. The controller has a service that can either be enabled or disabled by a system administrator. The service is capable of performing email, printing and facsimile fuctions. When a user inserts a USB-DSD into the USB port on the controller, the service presents the user with the three options stated above. Once the utility, which scans the USB-DSD and displays the supported files found on the DSD. Each desired funtion will have multiple options for a user to choose. For example, when the printing option is selected, the service will present to the user on the display choices such as duplex, portrit/landscape, multipage, number of prints and the like.

1. A method for processing a document from an associated portable data storage device, comprising the steps of:
 receiving the associated portable data storage device into a document rendering device, the portable data storage device inclusive of at least one electronic document stored in a native application format from which it was generated; 
 receiving administrative data representative of document processing privilege; 
 selectively activating, in accordance with received administrative data, a document processing service associated with the document rendering device upon insertion of the portable data storage device; 
 testing the native application format of the at least one electronic document relative to capabilities of the associated document rendering device; 
 generating a display corresponding to a plurality of available document processing operations available on the at least one electronic document in accordance with an output of the step of testing; 
 receiving selection data from an associated user corresponding to at least one document processing operation selected from the plurality thereof reflected on the generated display to be performed on the at least one electronic document; and 
 commencing operation of the associated document rendering device in accordance with received user input and available document processing operations. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the document processing options are displayed on a menu on a display console located on the document rendering device. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable data storage device is a universal serial bus data storage device. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the document processing option is an electronic mail request, further comprising the steps of:
 displaying a menu of at least one action corresponding to the document processing option; 
 selecting one of the at least one action displayed; and 
 performing the document processing option in accordance with the selected at least one action. 
 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the document processing option is a facsimile request, further comprising the steps of:
 displaying a menu of at least one action corresponding to the document processing option; 
 selecting one of the at least one action displayed; and 
 performing the document processing option in accordance with the at least one selected action. 
 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the document processing option is a print request, further comprising the steps of:
 displaying a menu of at least one action corresponding to the document processing option; 
 selecting one of the at least one action displayed; and 
 performing the document processing option in accordance with the at least one selected action. 
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of selecting processing parameters associative of the document processing options. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the processing parameters are image medium parameters. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the processing parameters are image transmission parameters. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the processing parameters are image output location parameters. 
   
   
     11. A system for processing a document from a portable data storage device, comprising:
 means for receiving an associated portable data storage device into a document rendering device, the portable data storage device inclusive of at least one electronic document stored in a native application format from which it was generated; 
 means for receiving administrative data representative of document processing privilege; 
 means for selectively activating, in accordance with received administrative data, a document processing service associated with the document rendering device upon insertion of the portable data storage device; 
 means for testing the native application format of the at least one electronic document relative to capabilities of the associated document rendering device; 
 means for generating a display corresponding to a plurality of available document processing operations available on the at least one electronic document in accordance with an output of the step of testing; 
 means for receiving selection data from an associated user corresponding to at least one document processing operation selected from the plurality thereof reflected on the generated display; and 
 means for commencing operation of the associated document rendering device in accordance with received user input and available document processing operations. 
 
   
   
     12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the document processing options are displayed on a menu on a display console located on the document rendering device. 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the portable data storage device is a universal serial bus data storage device. 
   
   
     14. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the document processing option is an electronic mail request, further comprising:
 means for displaying a menu of at least one action corresponding to the document processing option; 
 means for selecting one of the at least one action displayed; and 
 means for performing the document processing option in accordance with the selected at least one action. 
 
   
   
     15. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the document processing option is a facsimile request, further comprising:
 means for displaying a menu of at least one action corresponding to the document processing option; 
 means for selecting one of the at least one action displayed; and 
 means for performing the document processing option in accordance with the at least one selected action. 
 
   
   
     16. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the document processing option is a print request, further comprising:
 means for displaying a menu of at least one action corresponding to the document processing option; 
 means for selecting one of the at least one action displayed; and 
 means for performing the document processing option in accordance with the at least one selected action. 
 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 11 , further comprising means for selecting processing parameters associative of the document processing options. 
   
   
     18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processing parameters are image medium parameters. 
   
   
     19. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processing parameters are image transmission parameters. 
   
   
     20. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processing parametersare image output location parameters.